暑假尚未结束，众多家长都在叫苦，承担不起孩子的暑假账单。除了过往就有的培训费，今年消费向多元、细分方向发展，对旅行、研学的需求明显增长，费用也在增高。

出现这种状况和问题的主要原因在于学生和家长都存在盲目攀比。具体表现为比金额，误以为钱越多越好，越不能错过；比时髦，误以为名字越新越有意义，冠以“智能”“智慧”就很好，大家就争先恐后参加；比雷同，未能注意到不同学生兴趣、爱好、关注点各不相同，需要个性化、多样性的，所需要的成本各不相同，误以为研学旅行与在校学习一样，大家都要一个标准齐步走；比底线，误以为同学们都这样了，我不这样就落伍了。

处于这样状态的家长、学生，在主要由旅行社转型，公益性不足、商业性和营利性明显的一些研学旅行机构鼓动下，整体上抬高了研学旅行的需求，却未能收到良好的效果。

事实上，包括校外培训在内，研学、旅行以及其他活动对每个人都不是必要的，都只是选项。选择就包括选择花费1万元，或选择0元；而且对于个体的成长而言，若能真正了解自己真实需求，可能选择0元的效果选择1万元的收益更大。如果能找到机会，还有可能通过参与自己感兴趣，有特长的活动获得一定的劳动收益，完全不需要家长支付账单，效果却比支付费用的更好。

所以，对于每个家庭和学生而言，暑期教育支出应该量力而行，不能攀比。

在实践中，要做到这点还是有难度，其中的关键在于：

首先，应明确自己成长发展的真实需要。包括自己当下的优势潜能、兴趣爱好、成长规划、职业取向、志向，综合考虑这些后去顶自己参加什么类型的的活动。并借此机会更好思考未来如何更加合理、有效地经营好自己的生活。

其次，要基本明确自己想达成的教育目标，如果自己都不明确目标，就不能实现目标。比如，当下不少学生参与社会活动少，缺乏对社会的认知与体验，如果为了在这方面获得成长，利用暑假时间打工，为自己赚点自主使用的钱，还能学到宝贵的社会经验，体会到了赚钱不易，显然是达到更好的教育目的不错的选择。

再就是回归理性，学生要了解自己家庭经济来源状况，学会与家长有难同当，承担家庭的责任，而不仅仅是张口向父母要钱。由于自己化的是父母挣的钱，要尊重父母，开诚布公地与父母商量。尤其是进入初中学习的学生，更应该也能够与父母分担家庭责任，了解家里的经济情况，懂得为家庭着想，参与家庭决策，将参与各种活动的支出纳入家庭支出总体计划考虑。

还需要讲求效率，不要只挑收费高、有刺激的活动参加，不要选择参加自己毫无准备的的活动，通过自己长期筹划，在有充分准备的情况下参加的活动才能提高效率，一举多得。

最后要提高效益。不要贸然参加对自己的成长不能产生效益的活动；对于有效益的活动，也需要通过精心安排、充分准备提供它的收益率，有更多的活动做到这一点就能在总体上降低活动成本，减少支出。

青少年学生正处在消费欲望快速增长，挣钱能力尚未形成阶段；又处在此前主要消费来源于父母，此后逐渐增加经济收入能力，需要走向独立生活的阶段。需要学会自立，提高自己的财经素养，尤其是提升自己利用外部资源是想自己成长发展目标的能力，将自己的消费按其必要性、紧迫性分出轻重缓急，精打细算，这本身也是人的健全成长所需要成长的一个方面。

提升孩子财经素养有效的实践设计是，家长给孩子一定额度的自主消费。对孩子的消费需求不要照单全付，而是允许孩子在一定额度内自主选择如何消费，同时要引导他们思考：哪些消费是必要的，哪些是可以暂时放弃的。这个过程能够帮助孩子建立正确的消费观念，也能让他们更好地理解与承担家庭责任。一些孩子还丛中学会节约、以钱生利。

家长对孩子提交的过高暑假账单不能一味地满足，也不能完全拒绝。而应借此机会引导孩子建立正确的金钱观和价值观，也让孩子明白成长不仅意味着获得更多自由，更意味着要学会承担责任。当孩子的财经素养提高了，家长暑期账单过高的焦虑才能有明显降低。（本文来自《中国日报》）

The end of summer vacation may come as a relief to many parents because they had been struggling to pay for their children's vacation activities as the rising trend of students engaging in more diverse and specialized activities has driven up costs.

The root of the problem lies in the tendency of students (with parents' encouragement in many cases) to blindly pursue activities that their peers engage in. This is because many parents mistakenly believe that higher costs equate better opportunities for their children. Many parents even believe the newest or most "innovative" programs, often branded "smart" or "intelligent", are inherently better.

More importantly, some parents overlook the fact that every child is unique, and has different interests and needs. They wrongly believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, and assume that what applies to school also applies to summer activities. Then there is peer pressure. The fear of their children falling behind if they don't participate in certain activities prompts parents to push their children to take part in every possible activity, which increases their financial burden.

The situation is exacerbated by the shift of many travel and educational program organizers from nonprofit to commercial models, where the focus is on making more profits than on imparting education. Although the demand for such programs has surged, the benefits don't necessarily match the costs.

In reality, extracurricular activities, including travel and training, are not necessities. So families should evaluate their own resources before making their children participate in every activity. Often, spending less on activities and understanding the personal needs of children by talking to them about their interests will be more beneficial to the children's growth.

Additionally, making their children take part in activities that would enhance their knowledge, make them more worldly wise and teach them life skills might even help them earn some money, which could cover the cost of their summer activities and ease the burden of the parents.

Families should choose summer activities for their children according to their financial condition. Parents should identify the genuine needs of their children, and understand which activities they are truly interested in, and what will boost their individual strength and help them achieve their long-term goals. For instance, if gaining social experience is a priority, part-time work or volunteering could be as, if not more, valuable to children as expensive programs.

Establishing clear goals can assist children in navigating their educational and personal development in collaboration with them. For students with limited social experience, summer job-training programs can provide them with valuable learning experience and even make them financially independent.

The sense of financial responsibility is equally important. Students need to understand their family's financial condition. Learning to manage expenses is essential to achieve success in life.

Parents should choose activities for their children which offer genuine benefits rather than those that are costly. Well-planned, meaningful activities often provide more value than high-cost, superficial programs.

Teenage is a time when children tend to spend more without thinking about how difficult it is to earn money. But it is also a time when many children realize how important it is to lessen their reliance on their parents for money and become more self-sufficient.

So parents should teach their children how to manage money and explore different sources of income, which would help the children in the long run. They could start by setting a budget for discretionary spending, allowing their children to make their own choices but within the budget, and teaching them how to decide which expenses are necessary, which can be postponed, and which are unnecessary. Such an approach will help children develop a healthy attitude toward money, and better understand their responsibilities toward the family. This may encourage some to even learn to save and generate additional income.

It is incumbent upon parents to find a balance between meeting their children's needs during the summer vacation and setting reasonable limits. This balance will not only help lighten their financial burden, but also boost their children's personal growth and help them develop responsible financial habits.

The author is a senior researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

By CHU ZHAOHUI | China Daily Updated:09:04 am(GMT+8) Aug 24, 2024

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